Exercising device



Feb. 2 1937. H. G. OGDEN 2,069,384

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1936 INVENTOR.

BY M W ATTORNEYJ.

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES EXERCISING DEVICE Henry GeorgeOgden, Galien, -Mich.

Application January 1 1 Claim.

This invention relates to exercising devices, and particularly to adevice by the use of which practically all of the muscles of the body,and the muscles of the feet as well, may be exercised.

In most exercising devices the use of weights, springs and the like isresorted to for the purpose of creating resistance to operation to beovercome by the muscular exertion of the exerciser. As a general rule,any such device has limitations with respect to the extent or number ofmuscles brought into play in use thereof, and with respect to the factthat the resistance to be overcome is fixed, whereby, in order to obtaina given amount of exercise, the exerciser must use the device for afairly definite extent of time or number of operations.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a deviceof this character by which an exerciser may both bring all of hismuscles into play and may control the amount of muscular activityrequired for any one cycle of operation or use of the device.

A further object is to provide a device of this character whose useentails the opposition of certain muscles of the body to other musclesto thereby effectively exercise substantially all muscles.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which issimple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and the appendedclaim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the manner in which my device is used.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the device takenon line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFig. 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view taken online 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of theinvention, the numeral Ill designates a frame which is preferably formedof sheet metal and which is shaped to provide a symmetrical plan outlineincluding a rear edge parallel side edges I2, and converging side edgesI3 defining the front portion thereof. A longitudinal central slot I4 isformed at the front of the frame. Each of these edges is provided withintegral downturned wall portions for purposes to be hereinafter setforth. Intermediate the edges I2, and slightly forwardly spaced fromrear edge thereof, is provided a pair of comple- 1, 1936, Serial No.58,638

mentary integral off-sets I5 which comprise circular upwardly taperedwall portions I6 and a cup-shaped concave portion ll within wallportionI6. Three or more wheels mount the frame H1 in substantially horizontalposition, there being illustrated a construction in which the dependingwall portions I8 extending below side edges I2 are each provided with anaperture I9 substantially intermediate the height thereof and inforwardly spaced relation to edge I I and in substantially rearwardlyspaced relation to the transverse center line of off-sets I5. Throughthese apertures I9 extends a transverse rod or shaft 20 whose ends mountcollars 2| bearing against walls I3 at their inner ends. A Wheel 22 isrotatably mounted on each collar 2|, and is held in place thereon by anut 23 threaded on the end of shaft 2t and bearing against the outer endof the adjacent collar 2|. The nuts 23 are of a size larger than thediameter of the collars 2| to prevent displacement of said wheels, andserve to lock the shaft 20 and collars 2| against lateral displacement.The opposed walls 24 depending from opposed parallel edges of slot I4are provided with a set of opposed apertures 25 which mount oppositeends of a shaft 26 whose central portion between said walls 24 mounts acollar 27. A wheel 28 is rotatably mounted on collar 21. Nuts 29 arethreaded on the ends of shaft 26 and bear against the outer sides ofwalls 24. The wheels 22 and 28 are preferably of equal diameter whichexceeds the width of the depending marginal walls I8, 24, etc., wherebythe device will roll freely on said wheels. The depending walls serveboth to facilitate mounting of said wheels and to reinforce andstrengthen frame I0.

To use the device, the exerciser assumes a sitting position on the flooror other supporting surface, preferably horizontal and smooth, andplaces the heels of his feet in the concave portions ll of the frame. Hethen grasps his feet, as illustrated. For purposes of description, theposition illustrated in Fig. 1 Will be considered the starting position,the exerciser therein being assumed to have extended his legs tothe fullextent permitted by his grasp of his feet, and to be urging his feettoward facing relation of the bottoms or soles thereof. From thisstarting position the exerciser pulls his feet toward him, using, ofcourse, the muscles of his hands, arms, back and neck in so doing. Toincrease the exertion to which these muscles are subjected, the musclesof the legs and abdomen may be tensed to oppose the pulling by the arms,etc. As the feet are pulled by the arms, the knees are prefer- 55 ablyspread, so that when the knees have been bent to their full extent, thesoles of the feet will be brought to full face pressing engagement. Fromthis position the legs then push forwardly toward the starting position,opposed by the arm and related muscles. The wheel mounting of the devicepermits this forward and reverse movement of the feet without rubbing ofthe heels on the supporting surface, though permitting application ofdownwardly directed pressure by the feet; and the cup-shaped portions I!of the device prevent the feet from sliding from the device. It willalso be noted that the positioning of the heel receiving parts l5intermediate the axes of the supporting wheels renders the devicestable, so that it will not tilt and cause the feet to fall therefromduring use thereof; while the spacing of said off-sets IS incomparatively adjacent relation to the rear wheels and rearwardly of thelongitudinal center of the device, renders the steering of the deviceduring its use relatively easy. The construction of the device ofsufficient strength to sustain considerable weight and to permit theexerciser to press his feet thereon enables the exerciser to readilybalauce himself, particularly where the position assumed by theexerciser includes grasping of his feet by his hands.

I claim:

An exercising device comprising a horizontal member, a front wheelrotatably connected to the front center portion of said member, a pairof rear wheels rotatably connected to the sides of said member adjacentthe rear thereof, and shallow cups carried by said member substantiallyin the plane thereof for receiving only the heels of a user seated on asupporting surface on which said wheels roll, whereby the feet extendfreely above the horizontal member and the user may grasp his feet whilehis heels are in said cups, said cups being positioned in adjacentforwardly spaced relation to said rear wheels and in equispaced oppositerelation to the longitudinal center line of said member.

HENRY GEORGE OGDEN.

